Team BLAZE supports local community with Feds Feed Families campaign Published June 5, 2015 By Senior Airman Kaleb Snay 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Columbus Air Force Base has begun its Feds Feed Families campaign for members of Team BLAZE to donate various goods. Each year the campaign runs from June 1 to Aug. 31 for non-perishable food item donations from the base to be given to local families in need. "It's a nationwide campaign that helps combat hunger in local areas across the country," said Master Sgt. Nesha Willis, Feds Feed Families Wing Staff Agency Representative. "This will be the 7th annual campaign we will be part of and we want to make a difference in our local communities. Here at Columbus we partner with United Way, we will work with them to collect all donated goods. United Way will then distribute it out to smaller local organizations such as the Salvation Army who will then distribute it to the local community." Preferred food donations include canned tuna, salmon, chicken, soup, vegetables, beans or fruit; hot and cold cereals; peanut butter; healthy snacks like granola bars and applesauce cups; and 100 percent juices. Signs with the accepted foods will be posted on the bins where members can donate. "Red bins will be set up all around the base that we'll collect on a weekly basis and deliver the goods to United Way. You can donate at your unit, the bowling alley, wing buildings, and even the Exchange who has partnered with us and will have certain food bundled up that you can purchase and donate," Willis said. "This is a DoD supported program and anyone part of the DoD can participate by donating non-perishable food items like canned fruits and vegetables, boxed pasta, and even 100 percent juice." The goal for 2015 is to reach 15,000 pounds of donated food so participation from everyone on base is key, Willis said. In 2013, Columbus AFB collected about 13,000 pounds of food and the county was able to feed families for almost a year from those donations. Last year the DoD as a whole collected about 3.2 million pounds of food. "I think it's important that our local communities see that we do care about them and we do more than just train pilots and deploy overseas," Willis said. "We want to show that we support our country not just on foreign soil but also at home. Feds Feed Families has recognized that there are several working class families that struggle and need the support and being able to help provide that care is our priority." For more information on what to donate contact your Feds Feed Families group POC or go to usda.gov/fedsfeedfamilies.